Malawi’s main opposition, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Reverend Dr. Lazarus Chakwera chased long-serving and retired Regional Chairman for the Lakeshore Region Bauleni Mkweza and roughed up incumbent party District Chairman for Salima Langizani Mapulesi and his Secretary Mr Zambezi from a church service on political grounds.
According to 82 year old Mkweza, the development took place at Thavite CCAP where he went to attend a ‘paper’ Sunday and Reverend Chakwera was guest of honour before a political rally scheduled for later in the afternoon at Thavite Primary School Ground.
“I am a staunch MCP person and after serving the party for a long time I can’t be home when my president is in the vicinity.
As such I went to pray with the flock at Thavite CCAP. Unfortunately, under special instruction, the security detail refused me entry into the church and I was told not to be anywhere close to the rally or they will deal with me,” explained a visibly shaken Mkweza.
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| MCP President Chakwera Chases Former Regional Chair From Church Service Over Political Disagreements |
In proper MCP tradition, the District Chairman is the one in charge of overseeing meetings of that nature but when the Chakwera security detail led by one Phakamisa roughed up the Salima Chairman Langizani Mapulesi and his Secretary Mr. Zambezi on allegations that they were not supportive of the Chakwera administration and are calling for a convention in their court case, the mood in the party has been hostile and fragile for those perceived to be threats to Dr Chakwera.
“Phakamisa and his boys came to me and Zambezi and started talking about the court case in which myself and other District Chairmen are challenging the current leadership on their mandate in abusing power vested in the president by the last convention to appoint member to fill vacant post to the National Executive Committee (NEC), which elapsed the moment he did that in the run up to the 2014 elections and it is unconstitutional to continue doing so to date as that power was just for one time use.
“They roughed us up and when people started asking questions, Phakamisa changed the subject to our badges. He pointed out that we can’t be wearing Kamuzu Banda’s badges at Chakwera rally and insisted that we change to Chakwera’s but in the long run we were chased from the rally and it was the District Treasurer who was put in charge of proceedings in my place,” narrated Mapulesi.
Responding to ZBS on the charges, Chakwera pointed out that it is true that the party is like a ship in doldrums but he is working to sorting out the issues.
“There are indeed problems in my party but these problems have not distracted me and I will never be distracted. I will ensure that all party officials walk together,” he said.
But in his Sunday devotion on Facebook on 10 July 2016 he posted: “There are times when going back may seem a better option. There are times when the wilderness might seem like the final destination, but God’s plan for your life is the Promised Land. There are times you think the enemy is about to receive the winning belt. There are times you seem to be lost, you don’t know the road anymore.”
Political commentators have since observed that it apparent that Dr Chakwera is no longer in charge of affairs in the party, as evidenced by ‘Team Chakwera’ turning to unleashing violence on innocent party members, including the chasing of Felix Jumbe and Jessie Kabwila, his own NEC members and MPs from Salima district from attending the rally and other party activities. malawiindependentblog.com
